Having fun at shopping malls<\/p>\n
T.Sima Gunawan, Contributor\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Malls have become more than shopping destinations. People go
\nto malls for relaxation, to meet their friends -- \"to see and to
\nbe seen\" -- to dine or to drink coffee. For many children, malls
\nalso provide them with somewhere to play.<\/p>\n
In the corner of a children's game center in one of Jakarta's
\nshopping malls, a little girl fiercely clenched a rubber hammer.
\nShe eyed the target, then ... bam, bam, bam, she quickly hit the
\nsmall creatures that popped out of the holes before they
\ndisappeared.<\/p>\n
\"I did it...,\" she hollered.<\/p>\n
In just a few seconds, the fun was over and she grabbed the
\ncoupon that came out of the machine. She had collected several
\nother coupons from different game machines, which could be
\nexchanged for a small gift at the counter.<\/p>\n
Her brother was busy playing another game. He jumped from one
\nsquare to another in accordance with the light that switched on
\nand off. The more illuminated squares he managed to stamp on, the
\nmore coupons he would get. The light switched off so fast that he
\noften missed. But he laughed a lot, and enjoyed himself.<\/p>\n
Such games became popular here in the early 1990s, and are
\ninstalled in many of the capital's malls. In order to play a
\ngame, a child must buy a coin. One coin usually costs Rp 1,000.<\/p>\n
Smaller children may prefer riding the electric-powered
\nhorses, big birds or cars that come to life with the insertion of
\na coin. Those looking for a \"fight\" always have the option of
\nvideo games, through which, at the push of a button, they can
\nthrottle the enemy. Alternatively, they could drive at full speed
\nalong a virtual highway.<\/p>\n
Children enjoy themselves at shopping malls and, let's face
\nit, there are few other places in the city where they can play.
\nUnlike the capital cities of some other countries, Jakarta lacks
\nplaygrounds and parks, while more and more shopping centers are
\nbeing built. In order to cater for the needs of children, as well
\nas in the business interests of malls, such facilities are
\nincreasing in number.<\/p>\n
Those who want to ride a jet coaster do not have to go to
\nAncol Dreamland in North Jakarta. An indoor jet coaster, albeit
\nsmaller in size, is offered at Fun World in Puri Land, Puri Indah
\nMall, West Jakarta, and at Time Zone in Lippo Karawaci Supermall,
\nTangerang.<\/p>\n
In Puri Land, children can also have fun riding dodgem cars,
\nas well as enjoying over 100 game machines.<\/p>\n
Fun World can also be found at several other shopping malls in
\nthe city, like Pondok Indah Mall and Blok M Plaza, while Time
\nZone has outlets at, among other places, Mega Mall Pluit in North
\nJakarta, Taman Anggrek Mall in West Jakarta, Kelapa Gading Mall
\nin East Jakarta and Plaza Senayan in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Time Zone in Lippo Karawaci Supermall covers a 3,304 square
\nmeter area and is possibly the biggest indoor children's
\nentertainment center in Greater Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"We pay great attention to facilities for children,\" said Eni
\nRohaeni, the mall's advertising, promotion and public relations
\nofficer.<\/p>\n
The mall is organizing a special program for children called
\nthe Kids Lebaran Extravaganza from Oct.15 through Nov.30,
\noffering various attractions, such as Tales of the Prophets, a
\nmusical drama, talk shows, and a drum-beating competition.<\/p>\n
Other facilities for children, as well as adults, include the
\noutdoor swimming pools at the Dragon Waterpark, located on the
\nwest side of the mall compound.<\/p>\n
Another spacious outdoor waterpark is situated in the Pondok
\nIndah Mall compound in South Jakarta. Plaza Senayan, also in
\nSouth Jakarta, has a bowling center, and Mal Taman Anggrek in
\nWest Jakarta has an ice skating rink.<\/p>\n
There is another ice skating rink in Istana Plaza, Bandung,
\nwhile the ones at Mega Mall Pluit, in Medan and in Surabaya have
\nalready closed down.<\/p>\n
The 1,248-square-meter ice skating rink in Taman Anggrek Mall,
\nopened in 1996, and is the biggest in South East Asia. It can
\naccommodate up to 500 people.<\/p>\n
On weekdays, the ice skating rink has about 200 visitors daily
\n-- mostly students -- while on the weekend that number could
\nreach 700.<\/p>\n
To skate under the supervision of an instructor, half and hour
\non a weekday costs Rp 75,000, while on the weekend there is an
\nadditional fee of Rp 10,000.<\/p>\n
Those who want to skate without an instructor can pay Rp
\n29,000 for unlimited time. On the weekend, the charge is Rp
\n33,000 for two hours, with an overtime charge of Rp 8,000 per
\nhour.<\/p>\n
\"Children as young as four years old can have fun at the ice
\nskating arena under the supervision of our instructors,\" said
\nAgustina, the assistant marketing manager.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, there is always a possibility that you will fall,
\nbut you can learn how to fall in the right position and how to
\nget up,\" she added.<\/p>\n
-----<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/having-fun-at-shopping-malls-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }